Forward Facing Rowing System in Sit-Down or Stand Up Position

ABSTRACT

A rowing system in which a handlebar is attached to an axis that rotates when the handlebar is moved back and forth. This axis is attached to an arm loom fixed to a housing immersed in the water, at the other end. This housing supports shafts with oar blades hinged on them, and gates connected to them in parallel position. These shafts are attached with levers joined by a plate. A spring keeps the gates in the closed position, and stops the oar blades when they are pushed up by water&#39;s resistance. A cable connects these levers on the housing to one lever located on the handlebar; when this lever is pulled by the rower, the cable drags the housing&#39;s levers and opens the gates. The whole mechanism is supported by a block attached to the axis, and fixed at the boat by clamps.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of Invention:

This invention relates to a forward facing rowing system, suitable touse in the sit-down or stand-up position.

2. Description of Prior Art:

The current systems to row forwards present many physical demands on therower such as expounded motor skills coordination and great force outputwhich cause some to steer away from this sport. After each power strokeone needs the same energy and flexibility in order to reach the recoveryphase, not to mention the great difficulty it takes to change ofdirection (to restrain or to back down), or even to turn in anydirection.

Current forward facing rowing systems are limited to a sitting positionand do not offer the ability to row while standing. These existingsystems are rigid in the sense that the rower must comply to themechanism in order to row and are intended for rowers that meet certainphysical and athletic criteria; thus, excluding those lacking physicaldexterity.

The majority of these forward rowing mechanisms must use a boat thatmeets the specific dimensions of their structure. They are not usable inboats of different dimensions, and usually require one purposeful set ofoars to be used in said vessel. Furthermore, these present systems inuse require that alterations be made to the boat either to the sidewallor the deck in order to install them.

The current equipments to row occupy a lot of room inside and outsidethe structure of the vessel, hence preventing more rowing participantsto join in within the same boat. These present systems make it difficultfor boats to maneuver in close spaces or heavily trafficked areas.

Objects and Advantages:

This forward rowing system, which allows one to row sitting or standing,facilitates the rowing action because it requires a single uniformmovement of the handlebar to do it efficiently, forwards or backwards.With this system the oars do not need to leave the surface of the waterand they move to the rowing power position without much effort. Anyonecan row standing up due to the adjustable handlebar. The movement is thesame either forward or backward. The mechanism conforms to the boat andrower by adjusting it to the width and the height of the boat. Clampsare used in order to fasten the oars to the boat without altering thesidewall of the boat, that's why they can be used on boat of differentdimensions. Moreover, it allows for an extra set of oars to be installedin the same boat in order to allow more rowers to participate.

Last, and not least, this forward facing rowing system occupies verylittle space inside and outside the boat. Several rowers can participatein the same boat and can maneuver it with ease-ability in close spacesor in heavily trafficked areas.

SUMMARY

An innovative new system to row forward with the oars always submergedsaving one the effort of raising and lowering the oars out of and intothe water in order to row.

Yet another novel aspect is the handlebar that allows the oscillatingmovement to be uniform, facilitating any person to row without previoustraining and with little effort. The oars follow an oscillating movementthat is vertically parallel to the boat and occupy very little lateralspace, which facilitates the individual to maneuver in reduced spaces orheavy traffic.

For greater efficiency, this system allows one to reverse direction, tostop or to slow down, due to a lever located near each handgrip shaft.With just the ease of a thumb movement to this lever, rowing directionis easily reversed. Because of the unobtrusiveness of the mechanism itis possible to install more oar assemblies in the same boat.

Furthermore, it must be emphasized that the person can row in a sit-downor stand up position, the handlebar is intended for such a whim.

The frame of the system has the capability of horizontal and verticaladjustment to comply with each person's needs; the support block can beadjusted vertically and the axis can be adjusted horizontally.

This system is so easy to install that one needs only to clamp it to theboat/vessel without any need to amend the boat's sidewall.

DRAWING FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows a cross view of the rowing mechanism.

FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of axis, case and handlebar assembly.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of axis, case, and handlebar, as shownin FIG. 2, assembled.

FIG. 4 shows an exploded view of oar mechanism, housing, blades andgates.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of mounting plate, supporting block, andgunwale attachment base.

FIG. 6A shows a perspective view of locking mechanism in closedposition.

FIG. 6B shows a perspective view of locking mechanism in open position.

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of one assembled mechanism.

REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS

FIG. 2 10 FRAME 11a PLATE 11b PLATE 12 CASE 14 HANDLEBAR 16 BALL-BEARING18 BALL-BEARING 20 PIN 22 PIN 24 FLEXIBLE CABLE. 25 a, b, c, dCABLE-CLAMP 26 FLEXIBLE CABLE 28 PULLEY 30 PULLEY 32 LEVER 34 LEVER 36CABLE 38 PIN FIG. 4 40 HOUSING 42 BLADE 44 BLADE 46 HINGE 48 HINGE 50AXIS 52 AXIS-LEVER 54 AXIS-LEVER 56 GATE 58 GATE 60 PIN 62 PIN 64CONNECTING ROD 66 LOCKING ROD 68 SPRING FIG. 5 70 PLATE 72 BLOCK 74 BASE76 CLAMP 78 CLAMP 80 PIN

Descriptions-FIGS. 1 to 7

FIG. 1 shows a cross view of rowing system, its location on each side ofthe boat, the assembly of block 72 and base 74, the engagement cablebetween levers 32 and 34 on handlebar 12, and lever system on housing40.

FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the axis and handlebar. The horizontalloom of frame 10 is an axis attached to case 12 by plates 11 a and 11 b.Case 12 holds a handlebar 14 with a pin 38 crossing case 12 and eye-boltattached to handlebar 14. This axis 10 goes inside ball-bearings 16 and18. The vertical arm of frame 10 is an oar loom. A cable 36 comes fromoar housing 40, shown on FIG. 4, through a pulley 28 and connects withflexible cables 24 and 26 through a pulley 30 located on case 12. Theflexible cables have inner cables, like the one used on a bike's brakes.Flexible cable 24 is fixed at one end on handlebar 14 by cable-clamp 25a. The inner cable is attached at lever 32. The other end of flexiblecable 24 is fixed at case 12 by cable-clamp 25 b. The inner cable istied up to cable 36 through bottom side or pulley 30. Flexible cable 26is fixed at one end to handlebar 14 by cable-clamp 25 d, the inner cableis attached at lever 34. The other end of flexible cable 26 is fixed atcase 12 by cable-clamp 25 c, the inner cable is tied up at cable 36through upper side of pulley 30.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of frame 10, its assembly withball-bearings 16 and 18, its connection with case 12, and the junctionbetween case 12 and handlebar 14.

FIG. 4 shows an exploded view of oar mechanism. Housing 40 is attachedto vertical arm loom of frame 10, and holds axis 50, axis-lever 52, andaxis-lever 54. Axis 50 holds hinge 46 attached to blade 42. Axis-lever52 holds hinge 48 attached to blade 44, and gate 56. Axis-lever 54 holdsgate 58. Axis-lever 52 and axis-lever 54 are bended in one end 90degrees and these sections are bended again 90 degrees outward forminglevers. These levers are connected by connecting rod 64. Axis-lever 54holds a locking rod 66 attached to pin 60 by spring 68. The oppositesection of locking rod 66 is connected to cable 36. A notch on lockingrod 66 locks it on pin 62 by the action of spring 68.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of mounting plate 70, supporting block72, base 74 and clamps 76 and 78. Plate 70 holds together block 72 andball-bearings 16 and 18 on frame 10, shown in FIG. 2. Base 74 is acontainer opened up and bottom. It holds block 72 in a fixed position bypin 80. Pin 80 goes through a pin-hole of base 74 and any one of thepin-holes of block 72. Clamps 76 and 78 fix the base 74 to the sidewallof the boat.

FIG. 6A is a perspective view of the stopping mechanism in the closedposition. The spring 68 holds the locking rod 66 on pin 62 andconnecting rod 64 at the down position, keeping the gates 56 and 58 instop position.

FIG. 6B is a perspective view of the locking rod 66 disengaged from pin62; connecting rod 64 and axis-levers 54 and 52 stay in the up positionby the action of cable 36, keeping the gates 56 and 58 open until therower releases the levers 32 or 34 located on handlebar, as shown inFIG. 3. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of one oar assembly. It shows theconnection between ball bearings 16 and 18, the plate 70 and the base74. Frame 10 is the connector between handlebar 14 and housing 40. Cable36 and flexible cables 24 and 26 are the engagement of levers 32 and 34on handlebar 14, and locking-rod 66 on housing 40, through the pulleys28 and 30.

Operation:

Adjustments for Different Fitness Levels

Height Adjustment

One chooses the location on the boat for the oar assembly mechanism andsecure base 74 with clamps 76 and 78 to boat's sidewall, then slipsblock 72 into base 74; one sets the height aligning the pin-holes ofbase 74 and one of the pin-holes of block 72. One inserts pin 80 intothe pin-holes. FIG. 7 shows 2 pin-holes in block 72, this is just forillustration; it could be more than 2 pin-holes. These procedures applyto oar assembly on the boat's opposite side.

Width Adjustment

Frame 10 is loose inside ball-bearings 16 and 18. One moves frame 10 tothe desire position, according to boat's width, then inserts pins 20 and22 on frame 10 at sides of plate 70, attached at ball-bearings 16 and 18on one side and to block 72 on the other side.

Handlebar Adjustment

One places handlebar 14 on case 12, selecting the desired position ofhandlebar 14, then one aligns pin-holes of case 12 with one eye-bolt ofhandlebar 14, inserting pin 38 into pin-holes. Flexible cables 24 and 26are long enough to reach any position of handlebar 14. FIG. 2 shows 3eye-bolts on handlebar 14, this is just for illustration; it could bemore than 3 eye-bolts.

Rowing Forward

One grasps handgrip shaft located on handlebar 14 and pulls lever 32 or34, according to ones position, (standing up or sitting down), towardhand and holds it. This action is transferred through the flexible cable24 or 26 and cable 36, unlocks and pulls up locking rod 62 andconnecting rod 64. Axis-levers 52 and 54 rotate 90 degrees and so gates56 and 58 attached to them. FIG. 6B shows a view of this situation.Blades 42 and 44 are free to swing back and for. One pushes handlebar 14forward (in sit down position) or pulls it back (in stand up position),the horizontal loom (axis) of frame 10 rotates, the vertical loom offrame 10 swings in a pivotal motion, dragging housing 40 forward. Blade42 hinged on axis 50 and blade 44 hinged on axis-lever 52 are propelledby the water resistance, crossing gates 56 and 58. One releases lever 32(in standing up position) or 34 (in sitting down position) immediately.At this moment spring 68 resets connecting rod 64 and locking rod 66 tothe original position (normally closed), and secures locking rod 66 onpin 62. FIG. 6A shows a view of this state (normally closed). In sitdown position one pulls handlebar 14 back, blades 42 and 44 are pushedby water resistance toward gates 56 and 58; these gates hold the bladesand transfer the pressure to axis-levers 52 and 54. In forward directionpin 60 stops axis-lever 52 and axis-lever 54, united by connecting rod64. This action is repeated with every power stroke. In this conditionblade 42 and blade 44 become a big oar blade propelling the boatforward. FIG. 4 shows 2 blades, 42 and 44 only, this is forillustration, it could be more than 2 blades. The oar blades feather andsquare automatically by water force.

Rowing backward

In sit-down position one grasps handgrip shaft located on handlebar 14,pulls lever 34, holds it, then one pulls handlebar 14 backward, andreleases lever 34. At this moment blades 42 and 44 are in the oppositeside; with this action, blades 42 and 44 push gates 56 and 58,axis-levers 52 and 54 hence locking-plate 66. Pin 62 blocks lockingplate 66, and blades 42 and 44 become a big oar blade propelling theboat backward. In standing-up position one pulls lever 32, holds it,then pushes handlebar 14 forward, and releases lever 32.

Maneuvering (Turning and Stopping):

The turning around action is done with one oar in forward position andthe other one in backward position, one hand pushing handlebar 14 ofrowing mechanism of one side of the boat, and the other hand pullinghandlebar 14 of rowing mechanism of the other side of the boat at thesame time in a push-pull action. Stopping is done with both oars in thebackward position.

1. A forward facing rowing system comprising: a handlebar with a leverand a handgrip shaft at each end, an axis attached at one end to thecenter line of said handlebar, and said axis embedded in a rotatingdevice, an oar loom attached to the other end of said axis, a supportingblock pivotally attached to said axis by a plate, a base that holds saidsupporting block and is clamped to the sidewall of the boat, a pin thatsecures said supporting block inside said base.
 2. The system of claim 1wherein said handlebar is an elongated arm attached at its middle tosaid axis; being de upper portion of said handlebar suitable for rowingin standing up position, and the bottom portion of said handlebar beingsuitable for rowing in sit down position.
 3. The system of claim 1wherein said axis is suitable for slide sideways along rotating devicefor adjusting the wide of rowing system according to the boat's wide. 4.The system of claim 1 wherein said base is a container open up andbottom with a pin hole in the center line; and said supporting block ishaving several pin holes alongside for the purpose of adjusting theheight of said mechanism, when said pin hole of said base and one ofsaid pin holes of said supporting block are aligned and crossed by saidpin.
 5. In a forward rowing system, a housing comprising: shaftspivotally mounted on lateral sides of said housing, with rods attachedto said shafts in parallel position, oar blades hinged on said shafts,suitable for feathering and squaring by water force, levers attached tosaid shafts on the external side of said housing, a connecting rodpivotally attached at the other end of said levers, a locking rodpivotally attached to said connecting rod, and locked at a pin, a springattached at one end to said locking rod and to a stopper pin at theother end, a cable connecting said levers on said housing to said leverson said handlebar.
 6. The housing of claim 5 wherein said housing is arectangular frame immersed in the water in upright position, with alateral side facing the boat and the other lateral side facing theopposite direction; being said lateral side facing the boat attached tosaid oar loom connected to said axis.
 7. The housing of claim 5 whereinsaid shafts are pivotally mounted on said lateral sides of said housingin perpendicular position, with one said oar blade hinged on each one ofsaid shafts.
 8. The housing of claim 5 wherein said shafts have saidlevers attached to them on the outer of said lateral side facing theboat in perpendicular relationship with respect to said shafts.
 9. Thehousing of claim 8 wherein said levers are pivotally attached togetherby said connecting rod.
 10. The housing of claim 5 wherein said lockingrod is pivotally attached to said connecting rod, and said locking rodhas a notch that locks it on a said pin by the action of said spring.11. The housing of claim 5 wherein when the rower pulls said leverlocated on said handlebar, said lever pulls up said cable and unlockssaid locking rod, pulls up said locking rod and said connecting rod;this action causes the rotation of said shafts, setting the said rodsattached to them, in horizontal position.
 12. The housing of claim 11wherein said rod attached to said shaft is a gate that stops said oarblade hinged on lower said shaft, when said gate is in verticalposition; and allows said blade to cross to the other side, when saidgate is in horizontal position.
 13. The housing of claim 12 wherein saidgates in vertical position are in closed position, and said gates inhorizontal position are in open position.
 14. The housing of claim 5wherein said spring restores said locking rod and said connecting rod tothe close position and locks said locking rod on said pin when the rowerreleases said lever on said handlebar.
 15. A forward facing rowingmethod wherein the power stroke is accomplished by the rower pulling, insit down position, or pushing in stand up position said handlebar inpivotal motion; this action causes a rotation of said axis, dragging theoar loom attached to said axis; said oar loom drives the housing,pushing said oar blades against said gates by water force; said gateshalt said oar blades and the boat is propelled forward.
 16. The methodon claim 15 wherein rowing in opposite direction is accomplished byrower pulling and holding said lever on said handlebar setting saidgates in open position, pushing said blades through other side of saidgates by a power stroke, and releasing said lever.
 17. The method ofclaim 15 wherein rowing is accomplished by pulling and pushing saidhandlebar back and forth in pivotal motion, in sit down or stand upposition.